Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman will travel to Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates from February 22 to March 2. In Kuwait, he will attend the celebration commemorating the 50th anniversary of Kuwait’s independence and the 20th anniversary of the liberation of Kuwait by U.S.-led Coalition forces.

During his trip to the Gulf, Assistant Secretary Feltman will reaffirm the United States’ commitment to our longstanding partnerships in the region as well as universal human rights, freedom of expression, and the promotion of democratic principles. He will also reiterate to leaders that, while each country is unique, recent events in the region underscore the critical need to address calls for social, political, and economic reform in a peaceful, inclusive, and transparent manner. The United States remains prepared to continue assistance efforts to support increased opportunity, prosperity, and civil society in the region.